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The incident, which was caught on camera, occurred when suspended MPs and Rahul Gandhi were posing for a video on the steps of Parliament
Rahul Gandhi offered a handshake to Ravneet Bittu, who refused it. (Screenshot)
“Hello, my traitor friend”—Rahul Gandhi’s remark in Parliament on Wednesday triggered a war of words between him and Union minister Ravneet Bittu, who termed him “desh ke dushman” (enemy of the country).
The incident, which was caught on camera, occurred when suspended MPs and Rahul Gandhi were posing for a video on the steps of Parliament. Taking a jibe at the group, Bittu—a former Congress MP—said: “Ye Kargil ki jung jeet ke aaye hain [seems like they have the won the Kargil war].”
Responding to the swipe, Gandhi said: “Here is a traitor walking right by.” As Bittu walked up to the group, Gandhi repeated his charge, saying: “Take a look at the face. That’s what he looks like.” He then added “hello brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to Congress)” and offered a handshake which Bittu refused, calling him ‘Desh ke Dushman’.
Bittu quit the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 26, 2024, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He resigned from Congress and formally became a BJP member as part of his switch before contesting the polls under his new party banner. However, he failed to win the elections.
Responding to the row, Bittu told CNN-News18 that Gandhi tweeted about him not shaking hands and addressing him as “traitor” at the Parliament gate. Bittu said the Gandhi family is responsible for the disrespect faced by Sikhs, alleging incidents like attacks on gurudwaras in Punjab. He accused them of making statements against the country, while questioning him despite the fact that he is the grandson of a martyr and his family has made sacrifices for the nation. Bittu said he cannot shake hands with such people, and that is why he responded in that manner.
The BJP was quick to attack Gandhi on the issue, calling his statement an insult to Sikhs.
Delhi minister and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said: “If anyone is a traitor, it is Rahul Gandhi. Sikhs can never be traitors. The usage of such words shows that the mentality of the Congress has not changed over the years.”
Referencing Operation Bluestar, Sirsa said the Gandhi family had always stood against the Sikh community. “The Lok Sabha Speaker should act against Gandhi at the earliest.”
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla too joined in to attack Gandhi, referencing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Bittu’s family gave up their lives for the country and to term him a traitor is uncalled for. The Sikh community will not forget this insult.”
Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha was adjourned until noon as opposition members indulged in sloganeering over the suspension of eight MPs the previous day during the Budget Session.
The suspended MPs included Congress members Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Dean Kuriakose, as well as CPI(M) MP S Venkatesan. They were suspended for the remainder of the Budget Session for violating rules and throwing papers on the chair during uproar in the House linked to Gandhi’s insistence on mentioning the standoff with China on the LAC.
‘My Traitor Friend’: Rahul Gandhi’s Jibe At Ex-Colleague Ravneet Bittu Draws ‘Nation’s Enemy’ Retort
Congress Hits Back
Former Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa backed Rahul Gandhi’s remark and said Bittu betrayed the ideology of his parent party, the legacy of his grandfather, and the larger cause of a secular, united India.
A traitor is someone who betrays their friends, country, or cause—someone who switches sides when it suits them.@RahulGandhi called a spade a spade when he pointed out that @RavneetBittu betrayed the ideology of his parent party, the legacy of his grandfather, and the larger…— Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa) February 4, 2026
Congress MP & former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi said, “Rahul Gandhi told Ravneet Singh Bittu that he is a traitor who left the Congress party when they needed him the most during the elections. If he is not a traitor, then what is he?”
Attacking the Union Minister, Congress leader Surpiya Shrinate shared a video from Bharat Jodo Yatra where Bittu, who was then with the grand-old-party, was heard praising Rahul Gandhi.
भारत जोड़ो यात्रा के दौरान रवनीत सिंह बिट्टू ने कहा था“आज जो मैं यहां पग बांधकर खड़ा हूं, वो इसलिए कि मुझे राहुल जी ने कहा था- जब पंजाब की राजनीति में आना तो मेरे पास पग बांधकर आना, तब मैं तुम्हें मानूंगा”
जिस आदमी ने तुम्हें सरदारों की पग का सम्मान करना सिखाया उसके बारे में… pic.twitter.com/F67jLOryNB
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) February 4, 2026
Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said Rahul Gandhi rightly referred to him as a traitor. “You should first ask the Sikhs of Punjab whether he is a Sikh,” he said.
February 04, 2026, 11:52 IST
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